GEORGIA/FILE: Georgia releases all inmates recognised as political prisoners after parliament speaker signs into law amnesty bill earlier vetoed by President Saakashvilil

Record ID: 643628

  • Title: GEORGIA/FILE: Georgia releases all inmates recognised as political prisoners after parliament speaker signs into law amnesty bill earlier vetoed by President Saakashvilil
  • Date: 13th January 2013
  • Summary: TBILISI, GEORGIA (FILE - MAY 26, 2011) (REUTERS) RIOT POLICE WALKING TOWARDS PROTESTERS VARIOUS OF POLICE CLASHING WITH PROTESTERS
  • Embargoed: 28th January 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Georgia
  • Country: Georgia
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA3FSTMYVRZMWGQOSRBJ0CFNP03
  • Story Text: Georgian jails released on Sunday (January 13) all inmates recognised as political prisoners by the parliament, opposing President Mikheil Saakashvili, shortly after it enforced a massive amnesty law.
    The list of more than 200 prisoners recognised as arrested or persecuted for political motives include those who were charged with high treason, participation in military riots and espionage for Russia during time when Saakashvili and his United National Movement party was in power.
    The list was compiled by a working group set up earlier last month by representatives of various local human rights organisations and headed by the Parliamentary Human Rights Committee.
    Since 2012 October parliamentary elections the 150-seat legislature is dominated by members of the six-party "Georgian Dream" coalition, led by billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, who became the country's prime minister.

    "Today these people left jails. Marlen Nadiradze is one of those people who was arrested during November 7 (2007) protests and all these years he spent in prison with no reason at all, and so many people have gone through similar problem," Eka Beselia, head of Parliamentary Human Rights Committee, told Reuters when she walked out of prison with the first group of released inmates.

    "I was there on May 26, (2011). They (police) blocked us on the square, we had no way out from there and then they started killing us. Then they said we were guilty. What else can I say? You probably have seen the footage yourself. I just want to thank all these people who warmly greeted us, so called "traitors," David Meparishvili, arrested during protest calling for Saakashvili's resignation in May 2011, told Reuters after greeting his relatives and friends.
    Saakashvili who is known for curbing corruption in Georgia and implementing liberal reforms but criticised by opposition for crackdown on street protests, vetoed the amnesty law last December, but the parliament override his veto.
    Parliament speaker David Usupashvili signed the amnesty bill into law on Saturday (January 12), giving a green light to the release of more than 3,500 inmates.
    Before signing the bill Usupashvili said that new government kept its promise to restore justice by enforcing the amnesty bill into law.
    Prisoners to be freed under the bill include those convicted for robbery, fraud, theft, drugs and minor crimes, though critics of Saakashvili say many were victims of unfair treatment.
    The law also calls for cutting the prison terms of more than 12,000 other criminals jailed for grave crimes.

    "I take responsibility on my signature and I believe that although there were some shortcomings during the process of preparing this amnesty, these shortcomings could not be even compared to the crimes committed by the previous government against Georgian citizens particularly against those who were in the prisons," Parliament speaker David Usupashvili told foreign media after signing amnesty bill.
    Saakashvili said he disagreed with parliament's decision to define 200 inmates as political prisoners and release them under the amnesty law -- along with others whom he described as hardened criminals.

    "We are experiencing difficult times. You have seen that the amnesty law which I vetoed was signed into law by the parliament. By doing so these people are taking responsibility for very grave consequences (of this act)," Saakashvili said at a meeting with newly-appointed governors, after his opponents signed the amnesty bill.

    "They are releasing Russian spies, Russian citizens who were directly hitting the interests of the occupied country and they are releasing coup plotters, participants of forcible upheaval," Saakashvili said in a meeting which was broadcast by local TV channels.
    Critics have voiced concerns over what they call heavy-handed tactics in Georgian jails under Saakashvili. A video showing torture, beating and sexual assault of prisoners was broadcast shortly before the election, triggering street protests that eventually helped Ivanishvili to win the vote.
    Ivanishvili became a prime minister after the vote, forcing a difficult cohabitation between the president and new parliament, so much wanted by the West.
    Since the election a raft of former government officials have been arrested, accused of abuse of power and other crimes. The West has warned Ivanishvili, a political novice, not to lead a witch-hunt of officials loyal to Saakashvili, who in turn is criticised by opponents for monopolising power, mistreating critics and trampling on human rights.
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